Just ask Anthony Weiner. Social media can be dangerous. Weiner was the U.S. representative from New York’s 9th congressional district from 1999 to 2011. Then, he sent a sexually explicit photograph of himself via his Twitter account to an adult woman. The photo became public when another person acquired it from Weiner’s account. After denying the event, he finally admitted to sending similar images to about half a dozen women over a three-year period. Weiner resigned from Congress on June 21, 2011.

Twitter is an online social networking service created by Jack Dorsey, who was an undergraduate student at New York University. He told the Los Angeles Times that “… We came across the word ‘twitter,’ and that was just perfect. The definition was ‘a short burst of inconsequential information,’ and ‘chirps from birds.’” And that’s exactly what the product is. However, the “short bursts” from this source can now have global effects.

SXSW

Twitter began to draw popularity at the South by Southwest (SXSW) conference, which has been held annually in Austin, Tex., since 1987. Its purpose is to highlight the newest “high-tech” products and services.

When Twitter debuted at the event in 2007, it had about 20,000 followers. By the end of the conference, the number had tripled. Writing for Newsweek, Steven Levy commented, “Hundreds of conference-goers kept tabs on each other via constant twitters. Panelists and speakers mentioned the service, and the bloggers in attendance touted it.” ...